At a Glance

Absorb the deep history and inescapable energy of Brazil in four fascinating places. Begin in Manaus, the heart of the Amazon rainforest, and spend two nights in a jungle lodge learning firsthand the secrets and mysteries of the forest and its wildlife. Spend a day in the capital, Brasilia, exploring its unique urban design and the legendary architecture of Oscar Niemeyer. Discover Salvador da Bahia, the original colonial capital of Brazil and a city strongly influenced by its African heritage, and then continue to Rio de Janeiro to understand how modern life and a dramatic natural setting combine in Brazil’s beating heart. You’ll experience majestic Iguazu Falls and the national park that surrounds it, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Small Group

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 10 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you'll ...

Explore the Amazon and swim with pink dolphins.

Sample food and music that reflects the African influence on Salvador da Bahia’s culture, and summit Rio’s Corcovado Mountain for city views and an up-close look at the famous Cristo Redentor.

Ride through the Macuco Forest before boarding a Zodiac boat to Iguazu Falls.

General Notes

Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.

Suggested Reading List

View 11 books

The Brazilians

by Joseph A. Page

History

Brazil - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture

by Sandra Branco

Publication Date: September 5, 2006 | Series: Culture Smart!
Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.
Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include
* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* dos, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken
"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel
"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel
"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer
"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine
"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times
Paperback: 168 pages
Publisher: Kuperard; Reprinted edition edition (September 5, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1857333233
ISBN-13: 978-1857333237
Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 0.5 x 6.7 inches
Weight: 8.5 ounces

The Curves of Time: The Memoirs of Oscar Niemeyer

by Oscar Niemeyer

In this first ever English-language edition of Oscar Niemeyer's memoirs, the architect reveals how his many passions - among them his large family, many friends, the sensuous landscape of Brazil, women, Communism, art and literature - have all influenced his life and in turn inspired his architecture. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Niemeyer graduated from the National School of Fine Arts in 1934. As a student he worked in the office of Lucio Costa, and on graduation he began collaborating with Le Corbusier on a new Ministry of Education and Health Building in Rio. Yet, in contrast to the International Style, Niemeyer's curvilinear forms reflected Brazil's lush, undulating landscape and the emotive style of its music and dance. Here Niemeyer recounts his life in an informal, fluid narrative that moves from his childhood in Rio, through to friendships with intellectuals and politicians such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Fidel Castro, to tales of adventurous road trips. The book includes 40 specially-made sketches by Niemeyer, a chronology of his notes and an index.
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Phaidon Press (December 5, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0714848573
ISBN-13: 978-0714848570
Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7 x 0.7 inches

Behaving Brazilian: A Comparison of Brazilian and North American Social Behavior

by Phyllis A. Harrison

Cultural

Early Latin America; A History of Colonial Spanish America and Brazil

by James S Lockhart

History

Oscar Niemeyer: Curves of Irreverence

by Ms. Styliane Philippou

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1907, Oscar Niemeyer is recognized as one of the world's most fiercely original architects and the central figure of Brazilian architectural Modernism. The prolific designer of more than 600 buildings, Niemeyer has been in practice for seven decades. Architecture, he declares must be functional, beautiful, and shocking. Transgressing orthodox Modernist aesthetic doctrine and subverting hegemonic cultural models, his work privileged invention and affirmed spectacle and luxury, pleasure, beauty, and sensuality as legitimate architectural pursuits.
This gorgeously illustrated book explores the development of Niemeyer extraordinary body of ideas and forms as well as his role in the construction of Brazil modern image and cultural tradition. Through a detailed discussion of his intoxicating experiments in reinforced concrete, the book offers the opportunity to relish the stream of pleasures afforded by Niemeyers' important buildings, including his mid-century projects as chief architect for the new capital of Brasilia, and the spectacular Niteroi Museum of Contemporary Art, completed in 1996. Providing the first comprehensive analysis of Niemeyer's radical work and dissident perspective, Oscar Niemeyer: Curves of Irreverence sheds new light on the route the architect has followed as well as on Brazilian Modernism as a non-conformist project informed by a nationalist and anti-colonialist stance.
Hardcover: 414 pages
Publisher: Yale University Press (September 3, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0300120389
ISBN-13: 978-0300120387
Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.8 x 1.3 inches

Chapters of Brazil's Colonial History

by Capistrano de Abreu

Publication Date: December 10, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0195103025 | ISBN-13: 978-0195103021
In Chapters in Brazil's Colonial History, Capistrano de Abreu created an integrated history of Brazil in a landmark work of scholarship that is also a literary masterpiece. Abreu offers a startlingly modern analysis of the past, based on the role of the economy, settlement, and the occupation of the interior. In these pages, he combines sharp portraits of dramatic events--close fought battles against Dutch occupation in the 1650s, Indian resistance to often brutal internal expansion--with insightful social history. A master of Brazil's ethnographic landscape, he provides detailed sketches of daily life for Brazilians of all stripes.
Superbly translated by Arthur A. Brakel and edited by Stuart Schwartz and Fernando Novais, this Brazilian classic has never before available in English. Chapters in Brazil's Colonial History opens Brazil's rich, fascinating past to the general reader, and offers scholars access to a great turning point in historical scholarship.
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (December 10, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0195103025
ISBN-13: 978-0195103021
Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 11.2 ounces

Brazil in Focus: A Guide to the People, Politics and Culture

by Jan Rocha

Guidebook on Brazil.

Insight Guides - Brazil

by Discovery Channel

Guidebook on Brazil.

The Quiet in the Land: Everyday Life, Contemporary Art, and Projeto Axé

by H. Sabrina Gledhill et al

Publication Date: October 2, 2000
This much-anticipated book is published in conjunction with the second project in an innovative series of four, entitled The Quiet in the Land, and organized by independent curator France Morin*formerly Senior Curator at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York. For this project, an impressive roster of internationally renowned artists lived in Salvador, Brazil for an extended period, including: Janine Antoni, Montein Boonma and Rirkrit Tiravnija, Ca Guo-Quiag, Chen Zhen, Larry Clark, Willie Cole, Mario Cravo Neto, Domenico de Clario, Leonardo Drew, Jo-o Ewerton, Vik Muniz, Rivane Neuenschwander, Alberto Pita, Doris Salcedo, Tunga, Kara Walker, and Nari Ward. The artists developed individual projects with the children and educators of Projeto Axe, an organization that uses cultural and artistic pursuits to restore dignity to underprivileged children and to equip them with the tools they need to positively transform their lives.
Hardcover: 250 pages
Publisher: Museo de Arte Moderna de Bahia, Salvador, Brazil; English and Portuguese Language edition (October 2, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 156466080X
ISBN-13: 978-1564660800
Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9 x 1.2 inches
Weight: 3.9 pounds

Afternoon: Meet your Local instructor guide and depart on an familiarization drive around the city of Manaus, visiting "Teatro Amazonas" the well known Manaus Opera House. Learn about this amazing city in the center of the Amazon Jungle.

Dinner: Enjoy a welcome dinner tonight, and get a proper introduction to your fellow Road Scholars.

Morning: All morning guided visits, starting at "INPA-Instituto Nacional de Preservacao da Amazonia" where you will be introduced to the Manatee preservation project by one of its Biologist in charge. Then you continue to "Museu do Homem do Norte" a museum dedicated to show the daily life routine and traditions of the Amazonian peoples.

Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant

Afternoon: Free time to relax and explore on your own

Dinner: Dinner at local restaurant or at Hotel

Evening: For programs during the Month of May the group might be able to attend an Opera performance at the Amazon theater. Depending on availability

DAY

4

"Municipal Market"- Ecopark Lodge & orchid Project

Amazon Rain Forest

B,L,D

Amazon Ecopark Lodge

Activity note: easy walk on level terrain around the market.Transfer by Boat to Ecopark

Breakfast: Breakfast at Hotel

Morning: This morning, after checkout at the hotel, your local expert guide will take you exploring the local "municipal Market" by the riverside. Continue to the dockside where you will board the boat transfer to the Amazon EcoPark Jungle Lodge. Check-in and a guided orientation of the Lodge

Lunch: Lunch at the Lodge

Afternoon: Free time for unpacking. Then depart on a guided walk to the Orchid preservation Project and the "Quelonios" (Amazon turtle) breading project. guided by your Biologist guide.

Dinner: Dinner at the Lodge

Evening: This evening a free optional excursion by canoe to observe night wild life and alligators.

DAY

5

The Might Amazon River- Meeting of the Waters-Vitoria Regias

Amazon Rain Forest

B,L,D

Amazon Ecopark Lodge

Breakfast: Very early cup of coffee , before a guided walk on a Jungle Trail, returning for a proper breakfast

Morning: Early morning guided trekking along a tropical forest trail to observe and learn about the Amazon flora and fauna. Then depart on a full day field trip introducing the phenomenon known as "Encontro das Águas" or "the meeting of the waters". when the heavy silty fast flowing water of the Solimoes river meets with the lighter slow flowing black waters of the Rio Negro. Marvel as they run side by side for miles without mixing, creating interesting patterns on the surface. This is the beginning of the mighty Amazon River.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon: After lunch you will then transfer into small boats to explore the narrow Igapos and spot wild life & "Vitoria Regias", before returning to the Lodge.

Dinner: Dinner at the Lodge

DAY

6

The Amazon Pink Dolphins

Brasilia

B,L,D

Golden Tulip Brasilia Alvorada Hotel

Activity note: Flight to Brasilia

Breakfast: Early Breakfast at the Lodge

Morning: Departing early for a field trip where your local expert guide will introduce the pink dolphins, endemic to the Amazon region. Here you will be encouraged to experience the incredible by jumping in and swimming with the dolphins. Return to the Lodge to change and checkout of your room and transfer to the airport in Manaus for your flight to Brasilia.

Lunch: Lunch will be a picnic box on the way to the airport.

Afternoon: You will flight to Brasilia later this afternoon/early evening. On arrival in Brasilia you will be transferred to the Hotel and check-in to your room.

Dinner: Depending on your flight time, dinner will be the airline on board service, complemented by a "packed snack" for the flight. or a snack will be available on arrival at the Hotel in Brasilia

DAY

7

Brasilia - The Capital of Brazil Oscar Niemeyer Architecture

Salvador da Bahia

B,L,D

Hotel Sheraton da Bahia

Activity note: Flight to Salvador

Breakfast: Breakfast served at the hotel restaurant

Morning: This morning your expert guide lecturer will introduce the unique urban design and concept of the City of Brasilia designed by Lucio Costa to be the new capital of Brazil. Your guide will share this city with you by pointing out some of the most iconic buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon: In the afternoon you visit some of the emblematic buildings of the city such as the "Palacio do Itamarati"-Foreign Office Palace, the Cathedral and if open you will also visit the Senate and Congress buildings. Continue to the airport to check-in for your evening flight to Salvador . On Arrival transfer to the Hotel for check-in to your room

Dinner: Depending on your flight time, dinner will be the airline on board service, complemented by a "packed snack" for the flight. or a snack will be available on arrival at the Hotel in Salvador

DAY

8

Lecture, Training Center, Museum , Jewellery Collection

Salvador da Bahia

B,L,D

Hotel Sheraton da Bahia

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel Restaurant

Morning: Lecture: - Salvador Observed: Colonial Capital of Brazil, African cultural influences in Brazilian food, music, and religious syncretism. After the lecture a free time to explore the permanent collection and any visiting exhibition that might be on show.

Lunch: Lunch at a local Restaurantl

Afternoon: This afternoon your expert guide lecturer will introduce a private collection of "Slave Jewellery" at Museu Costa Pinto. Continue to "Forte da Capoeira" to visit a school for "Capoeiristas", where some of the students will present their skills. A stop at "Mercado Modelo" a former slave marketplace, on the lower town and developed as an Arts & Crafts market.

Dinner: Returning from our visit stop at a local Shopping mall where after some free time dinner will be at a local restaurant.

DAY

9

Pelourinho, African Heritage, Children Music Project, Ballet

Salvador da Bahia

B,L,D

Hotel Sheraton da Bahia

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel Restaurant

Morning: Depart mid-morning for an all day out in Salvador where your guide lecturer will introduce the Heritage, that came to Brazil with the African people brought by the Portuguese as slaves in the 16th Century. While exploring "Pelourinho" preservation area on the high town,visit S Francis Church important tile panels in the cloisters,

Morning: This morning is take a short walk along Copacabana beach to "Espaco SESC" for the Lecture: After lecture transfer to University of Rio de Janeiro to enjoy an open air musical performance by the students.

Lunch: Late lunch at a local Restaurant

Afternoon: Your local expert guide lecturer will introduce you to one of the most emblematic landmarks of Rio de Janeiro known as : "Cidade Maravilhosa"( the wonderful city). Traveling by two cable cars, first to “Morro da Urca” (Urca’s Hill) then on to Sugar loaf mountain top, with the city and the shore line at your feet

Dinner: Tonight's our special Dinner will be at "Rio Scenarium" a popular evening venue where locals come to enjoy traditional Brazilian music and spontaneous dances. Three floors full of a variety of antiques as a shop during the day, it is transformed into a music place serving typical food during the night. It will be a memorable evening.

DAY

12

Fair & Musical Experience, The Royal Botanical Gardens

Rio De Janeiro

B,L

Rio Othon Palace Hotel

Breakfast: Breakfast served at the hotel restaurant

Morning: This morning is aiming at introducing a little of the local people "way of life".Take time on your own to walk and mingle with locals along the sea front with the main avenue, close to traffic on Sundays creating a 3 miles long recreation zone. Then we take a short drive to "Sao Salvador" square, where local residents gather to hear musicians jamming at the square playing mainly Brazilian music-"Chorinho" mixed with Samba, Bossa Nova and jazz. Explore the local handcraft fair around the square.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon: This afternoon your guide lecturer, will introduce the “Royal Botanical Gardens" of Rio de Janeiro founded in 1808 by the King of Portugal D. Joao VI to acclimatize spice plants. The Royal Botanic Gardens is one of the oldest in South America.. World famous for its variety of species from around the globe, its Imperial palm trees planted by the King. Einstein and Queen Elisabeth II of England are just two from a list of more recent famous visitors.

Dinner: Free time to enjoy some of the local restaurants on your own

Evening: You may explore the evening street market set up on the beach pavement in front of your hotel

DAY

13

Lecture -Oscar Niemeyer Buildings -Corcovado Mountain Top

Rio De Janeiro

B

Rio Othon Palace Hotel

Breakfast: Breakfast served at the hotel restaurant

Morning: Take a leisure walk along Copacabana sea front to "Espaco SESC" for this morning Lecture: -RIO DE JANEIRO: from capital of the Portuguese empire to one of the most important cities in South America today.

Lunch: Free time for lunch on your own

Afternoon: Guided by your guide lecturer you will drive to Niteroi to see "Caminho Niemeyer", a collection of new civic buildings designed by the famous architect being built along the sea front of Niteroi across Guanabara Bay as well as the futuristic Museum of Modern art, with stunning views of Rio. Crossing the "Guanabara" Bay,take a guided walk around the old town of Rio introducing its architecture. Lead by our local expert guided lecturer you will visit the statue of Christ Redeemer, symbol of the city of Rio de Janeiro, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This iconic landmark inaugurated on October 12, 1931. Standing 38 meters high, 710 meters above sea level on top of Corcovado Hill, was built with popular contributions from the "Cariocas" , native people from RIO. We ride to the top on the clog railway winding through the largest urban tropical forest to the four escalators and panoramic elevators leading to the viewing platform around the foot of the statue.

Dinner: Free time to enjoy some of the local restaurants on your own

DAY

14

"Museu de Arte do Rio de Janeiro - MAR"

Foz do Iguassu

B,L,D

San Martin - Hotel & Resort

Activity note: Fly to Iguassu Falls

Breakfast: Early Breakfast served at the hotel

Morning: Transfer to Airport check-in - Flight to Iguassu Falls

Lunch: Late Lunch at Hotel in Iguassu

Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure to unpack and relax

Dinner: Buffet dinner at the Hotel

DAY

15

Macuco Forest & River Safari, Iguassu National Park

Foz do Iguassu

B,D

San Martin - Hotel & Resort

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel restaurant.

Morning: This morning introduces "Iguassu National Park" where your expert local guide lecturer will take you for a guided drive on an electric vehicle through "Macuco Safari" forest introducing the local flora and fauna. Take a short walk to the riverside bank where you will board a zodiac boat for a ride along the Parana river (the 7th largest river in the world) right under some of the waterfalls. You continue your introduction to the National Park of Iguassu, with your local expert guide enjoying a walk along the top of the river gorge observing the many falls(over 200) leading to the Main horseshoe shaped, the most impressive of them.

Lunch: Free time at the top of the falls leisure complex, where you can enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants and cafeteria overlooking the Falls, explore on your own.

Afternoon: Free time to Explore the Falls or return to the Hotel and Enjoy the facilities and Gardens. 5:00 PM Lecture at the Hotel - THE IMPORTANCE OF THE IGUASSU NATIONAL PARK BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION. A discussion on the gigantic resources of the Parana River basin, its biodiversity, wildlife, impact on the economy of the three countries, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

Dinner: Dinner at the Hotel

DAY

16

Itaipu Hydroelectric Complex & Refugio Biologico Bela Vista

Foz do Iguassu

B,L,D

San Martin - Hotel & Resort

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel

Morning: Depart for an all day excursion to"Itaipu Bi-nacional" the world largest Hydroelectric plant. A guided panoramic visit will drive over the DAM along its 5 miles length across to the Paraguayan side. You learn about various project created to protect the Environment specially wild life

Lunch: Lunch at the cafeteria

Afternoon: This afternoon a visit to "Refugio Biologico Bela Vista" - An environmental conservation unit created in the 70s to house thousand of animals “dislodged” by the power plant, and where Itaipu researches the production of tree seedlings, and captive wild life reproduction and preservation, as well as re-rehabilitation of degraded areas.

Dinner: Farewell dinner tonight at a local restaurant.

DAY

17

Program Concludes

In Flight

B

Breakfast: Breakfast served at the Hotel restaurant.

Morning: This morning walk to "Bird Park" where one of their expert resident ornithologist do a brief presentation of their preservation work before your expert guide lead the guided field trip presenting the many species of endemic and other birds, at the Bird Park reservation holding over a 1000 birds from 150 different species. Return to Hotel for your last packing before checking out of your room.

Lunch: Checkout of your room Free time for Lunch on your own

Afternoon: Time at leisure to relax. Your Group Leader will be informing you the time of your afternoon transfer to airport and check-in to your return flights

DAY

18

Arrival back in the USA

HOME

Meals

41 Meals

16 Breakfasts

13 Lunches

12 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

AMAZON ECOPARK is a tourist, scientific and educational property, created and directed by the private initiative. It has been established since 1991 and as a Lodge since 1995. Located in Rio Tarumã - a tributary of Rio Negro - approximately one hour from Manaus airport and in the middle of the Amazon Forest. It includes un-catalogued species in virgin rain forest, natural savannas and creeks. Several streams of crystal clear warm water run through the area. Over 6 miles of jungle trails enable the client to explore the jungle, orchids and giant trees. Located in Rio Tarumã - a tributary of Rio Negro-approximately one hour from Manaus by boat , inside the Amazon Forest. Monkey Rehabilitation Project co-sponsored by Living Rain forest Foundation and Brazilian Government adjacent to lodge grounds.